Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John Island and Charlotte Amalie

For one person, living is cheaper in Charlotte Amalie: $2,365 a month against $6,163 in Saint John Island, rent and utilities included – about $45,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Saint John Island, U.S. Virgin Islands
Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint John Island
🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands
$6,163
/mo nomad
Charlotte Amalie
🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands
$2,365
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Saint John Island and in Charlotte Amalie

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Saint John Island and in Charlotte Amalie actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $6,163 per month in Saint John Island vs $2,365 in Charlotte Amalie, rent included.

  • Saint John Island $6,163
  • Charlotte Amalie $2,365

A couple spends around $8,359 per month in Saint John Island vs $4,182 in Charlotte Amalie, rent included.

  • Saint John Island $8,359
  • Charlotte Amalie $4,182

A family of three spends $10.6K per month in Saint John Island vs $5,998 in Charlotte Amalie, rent included.

  • Saint John Island $10.6K
  • Charlotte Amalie $5,998

Saint John Island costs about 161% more than Charlotte Amalie, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Saint John Island and Charlotte Amalie sit above the global median – Saint John Island by 356%, Charlotte Amalie by 75%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint John Island
Charlotte Amalie
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$69.6 $69.6
$25.12 $25.12
177.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$152 $152
$118 $118
28.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.22 $15.22
$12.79 $12.79
19.00%
Cappuccino
$8.97 $8.97
$7.22 $7.22
24.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 $3.52
$3.05 $3.05
15.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 $3.42
$2.46 $2.46
39.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.95 $4.95
$5.39 $5.39
-8.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.15 $7.15
$6.93 $6.93
3.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint John Island
Charlotte Amalie
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.13 $3.13
$2.79 $2.79
12.19%
White Bread (500g)
$7.88 $7.88
$8.86 $8.86
-11.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$12.02 $12.02
-
-
Eggs
$12.04 $12.04
$7.17 $7.17
67.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$32.35 $32.35
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$33.61 $33.61
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.89 $23.89
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$22.07 $22.07
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$3.94 $3.94
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$17.98 $17.98
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$11.96 $11.96
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$7.55 $7.55
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$7.91 $7.91
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$5.07 $5.07
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.60 $3.60
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.89 $8.89
$4.92 $4.92
80.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.65 $22.65
$19.93 $19.93
13.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.52 $4.52
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.15 $6.15
$6.83 $6.83
-9.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint John Island
Charlotte Amalie
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$7.13 $7.13
$6.17 $6.17
15.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$152 $152
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$29.91 $29.91
$19.93 $19.93
50.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$49.06 $49.06
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.35 $1.35
14.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.6K $46.6K
$45.8K $45.8K
1.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$52.3K $52.3K
$48.7K $48.7K
7.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint John Island
Charlotte Amalie
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$306 $306
$301 $301
1.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$101 $101
$61.0 $61.0
65.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$104 $104
$101 $101
3.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint John Island
Charlotte Amalie
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$199 $199
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$11.84 $11.84
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint John Island
Charlotte Amalie
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.0 $79.0
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.9 $50.9
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$89.1 $89.1
-4.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.2 $99.2
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint John Island
Charlotte Amalie
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,925 $3,925
$1,261 $1,261
211.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,534 $3,534
$1,006 $1,006
251.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,921 $4,921
$3,493 $3,493
40.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,464 $4,464
$3,014 $3,014
48.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint John Island
Charlotte Amalie
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,523 $4,523
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
0
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Saint John Island: November 1, 2026

Last update for Charlotte Amalie: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Saint John Island
$3.5K
Charlotte Amalie
–
Groceries & Markets
Saint John Island
$991
Charlotte Amalie
–
Eating Out
Saint John Island
$777
Charlotte Amalie
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint John Island
$510
Charlotte Amalie
–
Getting Around
Saint John Island
$210 *
Charlotte Amalie
–
Clothing & Footwear
Saint John Island
$141
Charlotte Amalie
–
Sport & Entertainment
Saint John Island
- *
Charlotte Amalie
–

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,925 in Saint John Island versus $1,261 in Charlotte Amalie. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $152 in Saint John Island versus $118 in Charlotte Amalie. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $991 vs $199 – making Charlotte Amalie the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇻🇮 Saint John Island
🇻🇮 Charlotte Amalie
🕒 Local time
00:27 12:27 AM
00:27 12:27 AM
Same time as Saint John Island
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,170
14,477 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.891 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Saint John Island Charlotte Amalie 21 km
From you
  • Saint John Island
  • Charlotte Amalie

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Saint John Island vs Charlotte Amalie: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charlotte Amalie cheaper than Saint John Island?
Yes – Saint John Island is pricier by about 161%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $9,245 per month in Saint John Island and $3,547 in Charlotte Amalie. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Charlotte Amalie, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,261 there versus $3,925 in Saint John Island.
How do food prices compare in Saint John Island and in Charlotte Amalie?
Groceries cost about 399% more in Saint John Island, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is eating out cheaper in Saint John Island or in Charlotte Amalie?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $152 in Saint John Island and $118 in Charlotte Amalie. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is it better to live in Saint John Island or in Charlotte Amalie?
It depends on your priorities. Charlotte Amalie has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,365 in Charlotte Amalie to $6,163 in Saint John Island. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Saint John Island vs other spots: cost of living compared

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?